Lisa Laird, 644 words

"Judging the Race"

"Ready, set, go...and they're off!"  The race for the Presidency is on. Hard to believe that almost four years have gone by since Bill Clinton was re-elected in 1996. And now, it's Al and George W. as the fore-runners to the adorned throne. Pat and Ralph want a swing at the major league, as well. It's a regular four-ring circus. In a few months, the new ring-master will have been elected.

In the meantime, the clock is ticking as these arch rivals do their thing: Promise to fulfill their own visions of Utopia. When not focused on reducing opponents into sewer sludge, that is. There are two segments of society who resort to name calling: Children and politicians. Scary connection.

Once again, I am faced with the inevitable dilemma: Who gets my precious vote? I probably wouldn't vote for a Democrat. However, what would a Republican do to improve my life? Buchanan and Nader are novelties; they serve as diversions.. Give me a candidate who can make and keep promises that will benefit me directly, make a difference for me and the rest of us "average Janes and Joes." Offer appreciation to the self-supporting middle class that enables numerous perks of the "less fortunate" to continue. How about affordable health care; one where the cost of insurance doesn't make us sick. I'd consider any leader who can perform this trick He would be twice the magician David Copperfield will ever be.

Heck...if Copperfield was our man, he could make high taxes, welfare fraud, and crime disappear. He'd get my vote.

One problem is the reality that none of these candidates represent the average American. They are not our peers.  These are men of privilege and affluence. In a nutshell, they've got the financial resources to run. Sure, as citizens, we have the right to vote. Instead of one "hot shot" forced upon us, we get to choose from several. I have a few highly insightful friends with refreshing ideas. Even if they possessed the intellectual ability to make it to the primaries, do you really think VISA would extend their credit lines to try?  Get serious.

Let's face it, Campaign 2000 is a game of cognitive tennis played by the elite few. Do you think Al Gore or any of his opponents need to worry about their own Social Security benefits? Or, if they can afford to see a doctor, should the need arise? Well, the rest of us do.

Most people go about their daily routines, attempting to find and/or maintain happiness in their lives. They go to work, raise families, run errands, and try to grasp fragments of time for themselves. The freedom to dream is democracy at its best.

Therefore, the majority of Americans aren't too wrapped up with politics, or, take it too personally. After Newt Gingrich resigned as House speaker in January 1999, I asked a friend's husband, "Who replaced Gingrich?" He replied quite frankly, "I don't know, and I don't care." I received similar responses from a few otherwise knowledgeable adults, as well. The population has truly become disillusioned and fed up with our political system. The general consensus is that it is plagued with lies, corruption, and greed. Often, I've heard people state that they'll vote for the "lesser of the evils." I suppose the popular mind set is to roll the dice, cross our fingers, and hope for a winner.

As for me, of course I'd like to witness some miracles.  Who wouldn't? However, for the time being, I'll settle for three assurances: Severe crackdown on crime, continuous protection from foreign invasion, and preservation of our freedom of speech. Perhaps it sounds simplistic, boring, and uneventful. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be guaranteed a few plausible promises, than blueprints of a paradise thrown in the trash.

-30-